Brief Summary of Islam - 848 Words

Islam began in the 6th century on the belief that Muhammad, a highly respected businessman in Mecca, had received revelations from God in both Mecca and Medina. This religion began to grow when one of the first disciples, a twenty-two year old named Zayd, collected and edited Muhammad’s writings of his revelations and published them in one book, known as the Qur’an. The central beliefs of Islam, and the central acts of Muslim worship, can be summarized in the Five Pillars of Islam: shahada (bearing witness), which usually manifests itself in reciting â€Å"there is no god but God, and Muhammad is God’s messenger; salah (praying five times a day facing Mecca); zakah (giving to the needy); sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan); hajj (a†¦show more content†¦The human Adam was the only being, including all the angels, that could recite the names of everything, and this showed God that human beings could be trusted with much responsibility. Not all aspe cts of Muslim life, however, are encompassed by the Five Pillars. One important aspect, for example, is family and community life. This aspect of Muslim life is partially touched on by the Pillar of zakah (giving to the needy), but its weight is not expressed fully in such a command. When Muhammad left Mecca, he began a fully Muslim community at the oasis of Yathrib, which became known as the City of the Prophet or Medina. For those who made an affirmation of faith and joined the community, loyalty to the community was considered more important than loyalty to anything else, including family. This community set the standard for Muslim communities, as Islam today could still be considered a way of life more than a religion that is separate from other aspects of life. Many communities and states who adopted Islam made it a way of life rather than just a religion, and this practice even continues today in Muslim nations. Community is extremely important to Islam, but family is crucial as well. All life comes from God, so each child is also considered a precious gift from God. The family can express their gratitude for this gift of life by giving their child a name with religious meaning. This is why the most common name inShow MoreRelatedExplaining The Religion of Islam Essay examples1445 Words   |  6 PagesIslam is currently the worlds 2nd largest and fastest growing religion with nearly one-fifth (approximately 1.2 billion) of the world’s population believed to be Muslim (About.Com, 2008, Online http://islam.about.com/od/muslimcountries/a/population.htm). Islam is a monotheistic religion which means it believes in the one God. It is Abrahamic or one of the ‘Religions of the Book’, this means that, similar to in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible and the Jewish Torah, stories such as that ofRead MoreThe Role Of Ethnicity And Its Effects On The Development Of Africa, Latin America, And Southeast Asia1106 Words   |  5 Pagescontriva nce a ‘divide and conquer’ technique and hegemony in the LDCs. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of ethnicity in LDCs in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia on contemporary politics. First, a brief overview of the importance of ethnicity is addressed. Second, a brief discussion of the colonial rulers used ethnicity to their advantage is provided. And, in conclusion, this paper will conclude the overall role of ethnicity in the LDCs in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast AsiaRead MoreEssay on Women in Afghanistan1708 Words   |  7 PagesWomen in Afghanistan Brief Outline of Afghanistan History: 1910’s-1920’s : Reform movements in Afghanistan 1933-1973 : Some reform, country remains fairly static 1978-1992 : Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1979-1989 : Soviet Intervention 1992-1996: Islamist Mujanidin 1996-2001 : Taliban 2001-Present : U.S. Occupation, new government The reason I chose to study Islamic Feminism and Afghanistan, is that for many people, these words do not belong in the same sentence. AfghanistanRead MoreThe Modern View Of Islam1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe modern view of Islam in the United States is often influenced by the stereotype created by westerners based on the history of military conflict between the United States and Islamic countries. In turn, the view of Americans has shifted in Islamic countries due to the religious generalization that has been developed. It is widely known that the United States and Islamic countries have had military conflict in the past, with examples such as the September 11th attacks or the location and assassinationRead MoreCultural Awareness. In This Paper, The Socio – Cultural1256 Words   |  6 PagesCultural Awareness In this paper, the socio – cultural analysis of the assigned nation – Iran – is presented. First, a brief discussion on the meaning of culture is discussed. Second, the five major characteristics that that define a culture are explained. Third, a detailed examination of the common cultural characteristics of Iran are presented. Specifically, the physical geography, military and conflict history, weather analysis and civil consideration with more emphasis on ‘power’ are discussedRead MoreIslam: Examination of Misconceptions and Beliefs1663 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Islam - A Highly Controversial Sensitive Issue in Todays World: Examination of Misconceptions and Beliefs Objective The objective of this work is to examine Islam, a highly controversial sensitive issue in todays world and specifically to examine the misconceptions, beliefs, and values of those of the Islamic faith. Most people think that the majority of Muslims live in the Middle East, while in reality there are more people of the Islamic faith living in Indonesia. Islam, just as Judaism andRead MoreThe Evolution Of The Human Body996 Words   |  4 PagesAfter heavy analyzation, one would soon learn that the archaeology information website is primarily focused on the evolution of the human body. The web source provides various selections to choose from, including: the human evolution summary, timeline, hall of skulls, and their perspectives. Likewise, the human evolution page describes the fossil hominids and their origins. The author recapitulates the hominid family, which consists of Homo, Australopithecus, and Ardipithecus. Correspondingly, theRead MoreEssay about Ibn Battutas 1331 Journey t o West Africa1353 Words   |  6 Pagesconflicting with African societies’ interpretation of Muslim beliefs and tribal traditions. He is especially critical of the various roles of women he observes—thus, allowing us insight into his own judgments formed by his culture and society. A brief summary of his life is paramount in the understanding of Battuta’s impressions and reactions to West African society. Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta was born in Morocco in 1304. By 1325, Battuta embarked on his first hajj, or pilgrimage to the holiest IslamicRead MoreThe Cold War Was Easy : Capitalism Vs. Communism1402 Words   |  6 Pages practices and institutions by peoples throughout the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  would create this â€Å"Universal Civilization,† Samuel P. Huntington responded with The Clash of Civilizations? This paper shall provide a brief summary and critique of that work, along with a personal response from this author. Summary Samuel P. Huntington wrote an article in response. The Clash of Civilizations? appeared in Foreign Affairs magazine in 1993. The article garnered so much attention, it was expanded into a book. TheRead MoreGrand Canyon Int 244 Complete Course1616 Words   |  7 PagesZoroastrian beliefs and assess the notion that Zoroastrianism may have influenced other world religions. WEEK 3 Reflect on the varying understandings of Islam by contemporary Muslims. Considering Muhammad’s leadership and the early development of Islam, to what extent does contemporary Islamic culture adhere to or differ from historic Islam? WEEK 3 DQ 2 Identify 3 key beliefs that the Baha’i religion is founded on and how those beliefs have influenced Baha’i practice and self-understanding